Record of meeting 16 February 2011

Present: Jo, Terry, Helene, Mandy, Wendy, Eva, David R, David C and Cath.

News: Terry failed his audition for Letters and numbers. Helene went to Dales book launch. Mandy has two and a half dogs at present and lost a kilo. Wendy went to the Rugby Union and saw a portable toilet blow over. Eva has enrolled in a Certificate 3 in Aged Care. Cath cleaned out a spare room and made it into a music room for Rudd her grandson. David R has lost 20 kilos in the last year, a penguin swam with him this week and he has two male whip birds in his back garden. David C has been looking for a cheap printer and found a new one for $50.
Words -Terry – sardonic - bitterly contemptuous, quarantine – from Italian quaranta forty. Helene – skewiff - a Northern Irish word meaning crooked, out of line, or not straight. Wendy – borboygmus – a stomach rumble. Eva – machinations - lay or devise plots. Cath – iterate – to repeat. David R - pell-mell – confused rush or confused manner. David C – scot-free excused from payment, without having to pay. Jo – lour – gloomy scowling and threatening words. Glabrous – adj smooth free from hair.
Competitions - Jo bought info about a poetry competition in Ipswich. Terry has sent an email out containing the details.
Homework readings
Wendy - an ode to cheese. Cath – let the moment pass her by. David R – momentous moments. David C – more of Charlie the police officer. Jo – A moment in time. Terry - the silver ghost. Helene – Live in the moment. Mandy – A moment in time.
Exercise – we had lots of fun and laughter playing Celebrity heads
Quick write – a hook for a macabre story – we wrote about libraries, detectives, fishing, scary nights and bodies with missing parts.
Homework due 23 February 2011 – finish the macabre story you started from the quick write or write a macabre story including a hook in the first paragraph.

Attending. Vala Hanns. Robyn Kellner. Trish Rock Geoff Bolton. Jo Ball. Dave Cargill. Mandy Byrne. Terry McLafferty.Cathy Rose.

Brags from the Group.

Dave is taking his poems written by Banjo Patterson found in a deceased estate to Canberra to have it valued. and authenticated.

Terry. Going to Sydney to audition for the programme letters and numbers tomorrow.

Trish. Became Assertive and feels good about it.

Geoff. Pointed out that a journalist used the wrong queue instead of cue, it stood out so much he had to write in about it.

Mandy. Decided to be assertive with some problems and felt better for putting it out for all to talk about.

Cathy Her ride on mower is now working.

Jo put forward some competitions for us to enter.

Word of the Day.

Dave. Recalcitrant someone who is very stubborn.

Terry. Extirpate. To remove or completely destroy.

Robyn. Trichinosis. A disease from worms found in meat  Also a Pricker one who pricks.

Cath. Paucity. A smallness of number .

Geoff. Epistemology. Study of learning or books. Philosophy of knowledge.

Vala. Prevaricate  Evade the truth. To Lie to speak untruths.

Tricia. Prestidigitation. Slight of hand or conjuring. Juggle things.

Homework. The chemist nervously said. I don't know what he was given but your brothers prescription that he took this morning is still here, and he is not asnwerring his phone.

David. Read another instalment on his story that he is writing. This part he called. For now Detective Charlie Yu. Developing into an interesting novel.

Jo. Where is Andy. An interesting story about murder and mayhem.

Terry. A Poem about some pills.

Trish. The Chemist Said. A short story based on the set theme. Well done and thought provoking.

Cathy. Short Story on the set theme.

Mandy. A short story called The Right Pills.

Vala. A Poem called Chemist Dilemma. Written in prose funny and well done.

Exercise.

Study the Gavel and block and write about it. Describe it, what is it used for why and how it was made and from what. Some very interesting stories about the gavel.

Geoff brought in his published books. Called Twin-Set and Pearls.

Don't forget on Saturday 12th  to go to Dale's book launch at Huskisson Community Centre between 4.6pm

Homeword. Live in the Moment.

record of meeting 2 February 2011

Present: Jo, David R, Robyn, Terry, Cath, Helene, Wendy, Mandy, Geoff, David C and welcome to Trish


Brags


Terry found an old work colleague through “The Open Road” publication and found that they have lots in common. Robyn’s husband Joe had a pulmonary embolism on his lungs last week but is OK now. David R has been away on his property at Jerrong and read a poem he wrote about being out there. Jo had a problem with the RTA because of her doctor’s mistake and her new doctor has fixed it. David C went to a garage sale and bought knee pads and cleaned out under his house, he has no problems with his new knees. Geoff who is interested in Japanese writers brought books by Japanese authors to pass around and share. Trish gave up her former life and set up an Internet business and writes two blogs every week on nail technology. Mandy has bought a new lounge suite after 22 years. Mandy thanked Terry and Robyn for edits to her novel. Wendy bought 178 books on a CD for her e-reader for $1 all classics. Helene shared the book she is reading “Save your brain”. Cathy likes this hot weather.


Words of the day


Jo - infra – a prefix meaning below. David C- lucubration – writing by candlelight reminds Geoff of lugubrious. Geoff – his pet hate is how advertisers who turn a verb into a noun eg spend. Trish asked if people have blogs her blog is www.nailsalonsuccesscoach.com, and Geoff’s blog is geoffbolton.net Wendy – lubricious – slippery or lewd. Cath – aplomb – with dignity and self confidence. Terry – indefatigable – not tired. Robyn – read an intriguing quote from “the Ruined map” provided by Geoff. David R – histrionic meaning dramatic representation, theatricals and hyperbole meaning obvious exaggeration.


Homework


Cath – Boy it’s hot. Terry - déjà vu. Robyn – No time for a boyfriend. David R – Car history. Jo – min min lights. David C – Charlie the detective in Redfern. Mandy – Stretching the friendship. Wendy – Getting there. Helene – Not a good place.


Exercise - The brain health quiz had mixed reactions to the concepts and results.


Homework due 9 February 2011 – use these words and ideas to write a short story, poem or chapter to your novel

The chemist nervously said, I don’t know what he was given but the prescription your brother took away this morning is still here. He is not answering his phone.


Highlighted event - 25 March 6 pm Poetry River reading at the Arts Centre


Competition – Original one hour radio play on any subject to the 12 th Annual Radio Playwriting Competition UK. Entries close 31 March 2011. Entry forms available at www.bbcworldservice.com/radioplay and from British Council offices.

Record of meeting 19 January 2011

Present: Jo, Terry, Robyn, Cathy, Geoff, Helene, Wendy, Mandy, David C.

Brags: Terry has bought himself a new PC an Apple Mac. Robyn is wearing her mothers beautiful princess sapphire and diamond ring. Geoff bought a magazine showing history of the local youth orchestra. Helene went to the beach on Sunday. Wendy has tickets to see the Waratahs in Nowra. Mandy has too many brags to list. David C is a grandfather again.

Words of the day

Terry - Jejune lacking nourishing qualities, dull, unsatisfying to the mind, boring.

Robyn – rigmarole – a load of non sense

Cathy - Acolyte – attendant in a church.

Geoff – sanction – against or for something

Helene – hiatus – a gap, rest, break

Wendy – primrose path – life of sensual pleasure

Mandy – bare and bear

David C – inconsequential – not following logically, consequential – as a result

Jo – sapid – savoury having flavour, Vapid – dull, not having flavour. Sanable –able to be cured. Hale and hail and tenterhooks.

David C brought a poem that may be from AB Patterson. He is researching further. Jo bought in an interesting metal challis she found many years ago. More updates on these items later.

No meeting next week 26 January 2011 as it is Australia day


Reading from homework

Terry – Common and refined

Cathy – Eavesdropping

Helene – I couldn’t help myself

Wendy – Overheard

Mandy – The laughing order

David C - As winter grows near and Picking up Johansson – start of a novel.

Jo – Being first

Exercises and quick writes

A number of members bought in 10 quick writes and 5 exercises each which were placed in a folder for future use. Mandy will bring in a box to hold the ideas for exercises, quick writes and homework.


Exercise today

We rewrote a favourite joke or fairy tale as a tragedy, a serious academic paper or music video.

Terry – the boy stood on the burning deck: Robyn – mixed fairy tales: Geoff - from the bus: Helene - Hansel and Gretel: Mandy – Jack and Jill: David C – Rolls Royce think of everything.

Homework due 2 February 2011 (no meeting on 26 February Australia Day)


This was not a good place to have my car break down.

Record of meeting 12 January 2011

Present: Jo, Robyn, Cath, Vala, Helene, Wendy, Mandy, Terry and welcome to Geoff Bolton.

Brags: Mandy sold her caravan and had a wonderful Christmas including her ex-husband wearing a g string. Mandy is teaching her granddaughter to drive. Vala won enough to pay for four weeks on Lotto. Vala told us about her Turkish Christmas including smoking a Hokkah. Robyn had a last high tea in her mother’s family home in Revesby before it was sold. Jo saw her three grandsons and wished one of them happy birthday on the wrong day. Cath contacted an old friend on Facebook.

Words of the day

Geoff – educe – to bring out

Cath – shenanigans – high spirited or mischievous activity

Robyn – Charybdis or Kharybdis was a sea monster, once a beautiful nymph and the daughter of Poseidon and Gaia.

Wendy - vociferate – to cry our vehemently

Terry – howgozit – a graph kept during an airline flight

Fustian – pompous high sounding language

Jo – prorogue – to postpone or adjourn

Competition – write a one hour play with a prize of two thousand pounds details available from Cath.

Facebook - Helene to investigate setting up a page for the writers group on Facebook.

Homework

Mandy – Loving protection

Wendy – Golden years

Helene - Weakness

Geoff – Air to air

Cath – Help

Jo – Nonsense

Terry - Tears

Exercises

Each member to bring a list of five exercises next week to be used during 2011.


Project for the year

We will do the thriller course and write a thriller story.

Quick write

The stinking compost heap reminded me of a dead pig, my father, a homeless person etc

Homework due 19 January 2011


I couldn’t help hearing the conversation in the next café booth – use this as a trigger for a short story or poem.

Changes for next week


1. Everyone to bring in five exercises next week for use during 2011. Start searching your books, magazines and the net for ideas. The more creative people may wish to create their own exercises. This is not a writing exercise but something to expand the mind and develop new skills.

2. Each person to bring 10 topics for quick write and the homework to be used during 2011.

3. Brag section will be expanded to include - Sharing key information from a book I am reading. This is not a book review but sharing your learning.

4. Discussion on Bay and Basin group on Facebook.

Bay and Basin Blog

14.12.10

Attending. Robyn Kellner. Vala Hanns. Eva Brown.

Cathy Rose. Jo Ball. David Rudder. Mandy Byrne. Wendy Williams. Arriving  late. Terry and Helene.

Brag of the Day.

Eva went to her first concert since she was 17  it was very noisy.

Cathy sung at the Christmas Carol Service at Milton and she also showed us the original boat ticket her father bought when he came to Australia. Dated 1926.

David. Wrote a poem using all the Australian words and slag. It was so good.

Mandy has the bones of another story brewing. Hopes to get E book to publish two stories when she gets around to applying.

Vala Hanns going to see Altiyan Childs at Shoalhaven.

Word of the Day.

Wendy. Mendacious. To lie or be untruthful.

Vala.     August. Befitting a lord or revered.

Cathy.    Lucid. Which is clear or readily understood.

Eva.       Synced. To coincide or go along with co exsist.

David.    Compunction. A noun a feeling of guilt or moral scrupulous after a miss deed.

Circumspect. Adj. Wary

 and unwilling to take risks.

Terry. Genealogy is always pronounced incorrectly.

Perfumes. What you get when you set fire to a cat. (play on words)

Homework.

At that moment I should have left. Was the sentence we had to make a short write from.

Mandy Wrote Easily Forgot. What not to do when you go to a party.

David. Poem. Left was Right. A complicated way of explaining your left from the right.

Cathy Short story called Safety. Reaching safety during a bush fire.

Jo. I should have left before that moment. Short story. About a Brain. And murder.

Wendy. Poem The Demon Drink. How to get four children.

Eva. The Bite A Poem about a werewolf.

Vala. Did a Christmas Poem about the past year, very good we all enjoyed it.

Terry. Read a short story by our guest last week Geraldine. About riding her motor scooter through Sydney.  Very descriptive and amusing well done.

Terry read his poem. Innocence really good and it flowed so well.

Helene.  I just got back Mate. A Poem.

The Exercise Neuro Linguistic Programme. It sounds hard but it just means how you relate to words.

Homework. Some might say it is a weakness.

The Group will be closed till the 12 January 2011.

Writers Group Meeting 8-12-10

Attending:

Terry McLaffery

JO Ball

Geraldine Barton

Cathy Rose

Mandy Byrne

Wendy Williams

David Cargill

Brags.

Jo was given the all clear on her health much to our delight.

David C managed despite the floods to get to Dubbo and back.

Geraldine got a gold medal in a triathlon for her age group.

Rose mowed her grass despite it being very long and all the rain.

Mandy finished her short novel The Peace Makers 33,150 words it is a fantacy and I wanted to do it in one month and managed it. I hope to put it on E books.

Wendy going to the Nowra Players tonight.

Terry. Brag for the group. On the Blog we have been viewed by over 6oo people in different countries. So if you view our blog and would like to come along and join our mad group you are very welcome.

Word of the Day.

David. Lachrymose means crying feeling weepy.

Geraldine.Misericord. Shelving projection under a seat that is in a choir stall serving to help support the person when they stand up to support them.

Cath. Harbinger. Annoucing the coming of someone or something good or bad news usually bad.

Mandy .Tartuffe is a person who hypercritically pretends to be deeply pious.

Wendy. Bamboozle  to hoodwink to blind fold someone so they didn't know what was going on and the word came from that.

Terry. Fliers are pilots or something that flies. Flyer is an adventure or trial an experiment. So different words which sound the same A synonym.

Homework.

Mandy. A Book by any other Cover.. A short story  of 780 word.

Cath. Unbelievable. Short story.

David. Bullshit. Short write.About being a security guard at Andrew and Kate's  engagement. Very good funny.

Terry. A Poem Yer. Funny poem. A man who spread his seed but didn't wait to reap the rewards.

Wendy. A  Good Nights Work. A poem about Santa Claus doing the rounds.and a burglar following him and stealing it all.

Geraldine loves writing about anything and everything things she observed around her. A new member we hope will enjoy our mad ways and want to join us.

Terry read  some poems he wrote on the train really interesting and funny.

Terry did a brilliant one on Walking to read on the Blog.

WALKING. By Terry.

Humans walk while standing up, two legs instead of four

You'd think that'd be it, but no there's plenty more

Despite the commonality of humans far and wide

It's not the act of walking but the way we take each stride

Some people take gienormous steps, while others take them short

Then there's Olympic walking, a funny gaited sport

Hercules Poirot that "D" of fame, shuffles all around

While Mr Dillon's Chester had a walk that did astound

Little children's first time out can be pretty topsy turvy

While alcohol can cause a walk with path is very curvy

Skiers walk along like ducks, soldiers do it proudly

Pregnant women lay right back, rioters do it loudly

And so it seems just walking is more than what you see

Your step will very greatly, it's the gait that is the key

But despite the different ways we walk when we go to buy the paper

Be thankful that you've got the legs to do this walking caper

Jo gave us an exercise on rhyming words it was very difficult we were given words and had to find words that rhymed with them. For us that don't do poetry it was very hard. Find four words I challenge you to rhyme with Sunrise!!!

.

Exercise we did the scrabble word game. Jo won with a score of 24.

Homework

'At that moment I should have left'